The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1887-11-05

The Test q California Millionaire Put
70 His Relatives in Georgia.

A pretty little romance has just
eliminated in Raburn county. At
the base Tiger mountain, half a
mile off the main road leading to
Clayton, there lives small farmer
named George w. billiard. Mr..
billiard is about sixty years of age,
living with his wife and two sons,
the latter aged respectively thirty
and twenty-five.
Early last summer Mr.. billiard
went to his neighborhood postOffice,
where he found awaiting him a let
ter covered over with postmarks,
which denoted that it had travelled
a Ions, distance to reach its desti-
nation. The superscription was
written in a familiar hand, but one
which he had not seen for . gener-
alton. He tore the seal and read
the missive, and, sure enough found
it to be from his wife's brother,
whom he had seen last in 1S49.
At that time James McCurry was
q young man, as was also George
w. billiard. The news had reached
Georgia of the wonderful gold dis
coveries in California. The young
Georgians who had gone there had
written back glowing accounts Of
the fortunes which were made. The
descriptions had the effect of draw
ing still others toward the great
Ell Dorado.
Among those who were full of
the excitement were McCurry and
billiard. They had perfected all
arrangements to 60 and were bid.
ding the family good by when Dill
ard faltered. The fearful eyes OF
McCurry's young sister touched
his heart, especially as she was weep
ing for him and not for her brother.
Throwing down the bundle he held
in his hand, he declared he would
stay if the girl would marry him.
To this she cheerfully agreed. So
billiard remained Georgia farmer
while McCurry jumped into the
stage coach and was borne away
Since that time he had never
been heard of. 1t was with mingled
feelings. therefore, that billiard
started to read the letter from his
old comrade. The letter was a
soiled one. McCurry stated that
he had worked against adverse for.
tune, delaying writing to the folks
until he could strike it rich, but
every year found him striking il
poorer, and now, old, feeble and
poor, his great wish was to look
once more upon his native hills
that he could not do so unless he
was sent money enough upon which
to return. Mr.. billiard read the let.
ter to his wife and sons. ave must
send him the money" said the old
man, so a cow and a mule were
sold, and the money went on iii
mission across the Continent.
Several months brought another
letter in which the old man ex
pressed his gratefulness for the
kindness done him, but he was toe
sick to travel then. After that M
more was heard from him until las
Saturday, when large official en-
velope was received at the little
postofIice. 1t bore the inscription
of a strange hand. The neighbour
one by one dropped by and TOLD
billiard about its arrival. 1t wa
too late for him to get it then, bu
he was on hand early Monda.
morning. As he read it his hand
trembled. 1t recited that Jame
McCurry was dead that he wishe'
to test the fidelity of his sister
family; that their prompt answe
to his appeal moved him, and that
by his will, his property in Califol
MIA, valued at 100000, wa
willed in equal parts to his sister
her husband, and their two son:
The two young men are going t
California to superintend the prop
erty, which they intend to CONVEX
into cash, and return to Georgia.
Memphis Avalanche.